BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//RSI - ECPv6.0.8//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:RSI
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://rethinksustainability.ca
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for RSI
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Toronto
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20190310T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20191103T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20200308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20201101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20210314T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20211107T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20220313T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20221106T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20230312T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20231105T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20240310T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20241103T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
TZID:UTC
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:UTC
DTSTART:20160101T000000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250429T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250429T203000
DTSTAMP:20260415T175813
CREATED:20250305T201454Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250405T191702Z
UID:5911-1745944200-1745958600@rethinksustainability.ca
SUMMARY:BIG SHIFTS - AI\, Sustainability Innovation Roundtable
DESCRIPTION:BIG SHIFTS – AI\, Sustainability Innovation Roundtable\n\nThis is the third in a series of Big Shift roundtables by RSI for multi-disciplined groups of senior leaders and experts. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nShaping Business\, Built Environment and Stakeholder Communities\nJoin us at the April 29th RSI Big Shift roundtable to hear keynote speakers\, Dr. Cindy Gordon\, one of North America’s most trusted AI and tech entrepreneurs and experts; and TELUS’s globally recognized Pam Snively\, Chief Data &Trust Officer Pam Snively and a sought-after speaker. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLEARN MORE AND REGISTER TODAY
URL:https://rethinksustainability.ca/event/big-shifts-ai-sustainability-innovation-roundtable/
LOCATION:Telus\, 25 York Street\, 3rd Floor\, Toronto\, ON\, M5J 2V5\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Upcoming Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://rethinksustainability.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MC3.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250327T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250327T173000
DTSTAMP:20260415T175813
CREATED:20250205T200315Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250405T191059Z
UID:5908-1743078600-1743096600@rethinksustainability.ca
SUMMARY:The BIG SHIFT: Integrated Approaches to BIG SHIFTS in the Built Environment and Stakeholder Communities
DESCRIPTION:Integrated Approaches to BIG SHIFTS in the Built Environment and Stakeholder CommunitiesRSI presents the BIG SHIFT roundtables part 2 with the focus on The Built Environment and Stakeholder Communities \nJoin for us for this action-focused knowledge exchange for senior and emerging leaders and experts to help shape the future readiness of Canada’s business\, science\, arts and technology organizations. \nREGISTER HERE
URL:https://rethinksustainability.ca/event/the-big-shift-integrated-approaches-to-big-shifts-in-the-built-environment-and-stakeholder-communities/
LOCATION:Telus\, 25 York Street\, 3rd Floor\, Toronto\, ON\, M5J 2V5\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Past
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://rethinksustainability.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MC2.fw_.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250218T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250218T163000
DTSTAMP:20260415T175813
CREATED:20250125T202414Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250405T191201Z
UID:5758-1739878200-1739896200@rethinksustainability.ca
SUMMARY:THE BIG SHIFT\, Foundational Discovery Session
DESCRIPTION:THE BIG SHIFT\, Foundational Discovery And are you ready? Session – what is the Big Shift?\nThis is a series of action focused knowledge exchange roundtables with multidisciplined groups of senior and emerging forward thinking leaders and experts –    from academia\, business\, government\, NFP\, social enterprises and civil society. With a focus on emerging trends\, innovative future readiness insights and actions for thriving in this fast-changing world. \nFor event details\, sponsorship opportunities and to register click the button below \nLEARN MORE AND REGISTER TODAY!
URL:https://rethinksustainability.ca/event/the-big-shift-foundational-discovery-session/
LOCATION:Telus\, 25 York Street\, 3rd Floor\, Toronto\, ON\, M5J 2V5\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Past
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://rethinksustainability.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/EB.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20230503T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20230503T171500
DTSTAMP:20260415T175813
CREATED:20230401T183958Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230402T164612Z
UID:4744-1683127800-1683134100@rethinksustainability.ca
SUMMARY:Future of Food Roundtable
DESCRIPTION:Join Our Online Future of Food Roundtable \nMay 3rd\, 2023\, 3:30 to 5:15 pm EST\nRethinking Food Access & Affordability with Future-Readying Actions that Work\nLearn from recognized leaders shaping what’s needed to make this future real.\nRegistration is open until May 2nd\, 2023 at 8pm EDT \nJoin RSI and industry colleagues for an action-centred roundtable on how food-related leaders are reshaping the future of food\, making it more accessible and affordable for everyone. Some of the information they’ll share may surprise you. And it is not “business as usual.” Sustainable food solutions are closer than you might think. \nRSI’s roundtable speakers are trusted changemakers\, backed by decades of on-the-ground success as leaders in business\, government\, science\, economics\, communications\, and other fields. They share a vision of making sustainable and accessible food a reality for everyone!  \nKey questions guiding the roundtable discovery:\nWhat are the barriers to making food access and affordability a reality for everyone?\nWhat are proven\, scalable solutions that exist now and can be implemented?\nWho needs to participate\, and how\, to make it real?\nWhy do we need to take action now? \nLEARN MOREREGISTER NOW
URL:https://rethinksustainability.ca/event/future-of-food-roundtable/
LOCATION:Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rethinksustainability.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Future-Of-Food-EventBrite-Header-100.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20220526T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20220526T133000
DTSTAMP:20260415T175813
CREATED:20220511T160524Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220615T155137Z
UID:4459-1653566400-1653571800@rethinksustainability.ca
SUMMARY:
DESCRIPTION:Speaker Series \nWatch our recap video below: \nJoin RSI for a series of weekly\, one-hour action learning speaker webinars during the month of May 2022. \nDesigned for action learning\, the speaker series features a diversity of topic related leaders and experts recognized for their innovative\, inclusive and systems thinking in advancing food security and climate resiliency in Canada and abroad to get their views on the future of food in a time of great change. \nWhy now? Why a Systems Approach? \nOver 5.6 million Canadians live with food insecurity\, hunger and poverty every day of their lives! With the impacts of Covid-19\, rising inflation and climate change across the supply chain\, the actual number of people living with hunger is likely a lot higher than what’s reported. \nThe 2022 Food Price Report for Canada forecasts a 5% to 7% increase in food prices in 2022\, the highest in its 12-year history. This translates to an annual cost of food of $14\,767 for the average Canadian family – an increase of $966 over 2021. \nThis is a highly concerning figure for Canada’s most vulnerable people. There is more than enough food produced to nourish every Canadian\, but over 50% of our produce gets wasted. There are clear systemic challenges that need to be explored. These complex supply dynamics are shifting rapidly. \nIt is a complex\, interconnected problem that needs to be explored\, understood and addressed with a futures lens and systems approach. \nREGISTER TODAY \n*Note: through the generosity of our wonderful sponsors\, everyone who registers will receive a promotional discount code from both The Big Carrot and The Spent Goods Company. \n#4: May 26\, Thursday at 12 PM ET: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-reimagined-future-of-food-security-and-climate-resiliency-week-4-tickets-323379666287 \nFOCUS: The Future of Food Security for Communities and Cities. \nSPEAKERS: \nDr. Zeuli established the Feeding Cities Group in 2019 to mobilize the vision for resilient urban food systems she forged while serving as the Senior Vice President at the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC). Kim holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics and has extensive experience as a researcher and consultant working on food system issues in the U.S. and globally. She has worked in and with corporations\, government agencies\, philanthropic and non-profit organizations as a thought leader and trusted advisor at the intersection of food systems\, disaster risk mitigation and community development. \nPhil Fung is a Consulting Engineer (Energy and Sustainability) in Ontario\, Canada. His areas of expertise are energy efficient and sustainable buildings design\, nature-inspired regenerative buildings design\, energy modelling\, and LEED certification management. Starting his career as an Automation & Robotics Engineer\, Phil accepted the part-time professorship at Humber College in 2012. Phil’s overarching design principle is “Buildings like the forest ecosystems.” Using nature as mentor and tool\, Phil designed and applied for patent of his Vertical Indoor Aquatic Ecosystem – Vertical Indoor Garden (VIGA™) – in early 2014 which was based on biomimetic\, biophilic\, and bio-synergistic design principles. Recently\, Phil secured a research grant from NSERC (National Science and Engineering Research Council) using biophilic design to enhance the mental health of people working from home and improve their productivity and effectiveness. \nKate is a certified nutritionist and healthy food systems advocate. For 10 years her work at The Big Carrot has focused on championing organic agriculture\, building better food literacy\, and fostering creative partnerships in the community. \nThe Big Carrot is a worker-owned natural food market that has been committed to local\, organic\, non-GMO and sustainable food systems since 1983. Growing from 9 founding partners to a thriving worker-owned business\, The Big Carrot is run in the same democratic manner as when it first opened. Its approach to health includes creating and protecting sustainable\, robust food systems and facilitating community innovation. Each year The Big Carrot funds two grant streams: Carrot Cache and Natures Finest Fund which support sustainable farming and equitable food systems in Ontario. \nThe opportunity Mike sees in agri-voltaics threads his collective experience and fuels his ambition to be a change maker and accelerator of the energy transition through an agricultural lens. \nMike has been involved with the renewable energy industry for most of his life. He has led teams to develop and operate utility-scale solar\, energy storage and hydroelectric projects throughout Canada and the US. Under First Green Energy\, Mike has returned to his roots and has redoubled his attention to the acceleration of the electrification transition in Canada bringing his personal background in farming and applying his professional experience towards expanding agrivoltaics into Canada. \nMike founded First Green Energy in 2007 as a renewable energy development consultancy after growing up supporting his family’s hydroelectric business endeavours. Mike has held many roles concurrent to his renewable experience including mining\, manufacturing\, agriculture\, and automotive sectors. For the past 20 years\, Mike has also managed his family’s farm operations\, where he was named Entrepreneur of the Year for Halton Hills in 2013. Through his farming efforts Mike led various endeavours seeking added value from a difficult to resolve agricultural reality for many of today’s family farms. These efforts included organic strawberry growing \, on-farm market development\, traditional cash cropping\, and market gardening. \nThrough all of his experiences in energy\, farming and elsewhere\, Mike has continually developed strong business relationships with ever diverse parties to contemplate\, realize and deliver innovative business outcomes. \nYasmin is a recognized futurist\, innovation and growth strategist and advisor for leaders\, boards\, organizations and communities in the Americas\, Caribbean and Europe. \nShe specializes in helping clients explore the future and mobilize best fit approaches and solutions to thrive in the new realities of a highly disruptive world impacted by Covid 19\, climate change\, digitization\, inflation\, social-economic inequities and more. \nBacked by 30+ years of international experience as both an executive and a senior advisor for and with corporations\, government/NGOs and NFPs\, Energy/Social Innovation Hubs\, entrepreneurs and philanthropists she is a sought-after keynote speaker and strategic advisor. \nYasmin uses a similar futurist-systems thinking approach for community initiatives. \nThis includes the 2021-2022 RSI Community Climate Action project by and with St James Town members\, a dedicated project team and experts from seven countries – funded in part by the Government of Canada. \nIn 2011\, she founded RSI as a go-to knowledge exchange for senior leaders to broaden their understanding of how important it is to embed sustainability and resiliency as core business priorities vs. a sideline. \nSince then\, RSI has evolved into a global brand\, spanning all sectors\, with a common focus on building a more resilient\, just\, and sustainable future. RSI collaborates with a diverse and inclusive ecosystem of senior and emerging leaders\, partnerships\, associations and youth. \n********* \nEvent Sponsors: \n********* \n  \nTo learn more and to explore other ways of getting involved\, including partnership opportunities\, contact: \nPatrick Gossage at pgossage@rethinksustainability.ca / mobile (416) 347-1862 and communications@rethinksustainability.ca\, urvil.villaruel@rethinksustainability.ca \nAbout the Series Organizer and Contact Information \nRSI is a dynamic “think-do” knowledge exchange that helps executives\, entrepreneurs and innovators examine the challenges they face while helping them identify strategies and insights for advancing the sustainability and resiliency of business and society to thrive into the future. Our exchange\, through formal and informal discussions\, action-learning accelerators\, workshops\, keynote presentations and publications\, provides access to progressive leaders and actionable insights for Canadians and our global partners. \nFor more information:Email: communications@rethinksustainability.ca
URL:https://rethinksustainability.ca/event/a-reimagined-future-of-food-security-and-climate-resiliency-week-4/
LOCATION:Online
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20220519T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20220519T133000
DTSTAMP:20260415T175813
CREATED:20220419T165835Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220617T120731Z
UID:4276-1652961600-1652967000@rethinksustainability.ca
SUMMARY:
DESCRIPTION:Speaker Series \n\nWatch our recap video below: \n\nJoin RSI for a series of weekly\, one-hour action learning speaker webinars during the month of May 2022. \n\nDesigned for action learning\, the speaker series features a diversity of topic related leaders and experts recognized for their innovative\, inclusive and systems thinking in advancing food security and climate resiliency in Canada and abroad to get their views on the future of food in a time of great change. \nWhy now? Why a Systems Approach? \nOver 5.6 million Canadians live with food insecurity\, hunger and poverty every day of their lives! With the impacts of Covid-19\, rising inflation and climate change across the supply chain\, the actual number of people living with hunger is likely a lot higher than what’s reported. \nThe 2022 Food Price Report for Canada forecasts a 5% to 7% increase in food prices in 2022\, the highest in its 12-year history. This translates to an annual cost of food of $14\,767 for the average Canadian family – an increase of $966 over 2021. \nThis is a highly concerning figure for Canada’s most vulnerable people. There is more than enough food produced to nourish every Canadian\, but over 50% of our produce gets wasted. There are clear systemic challenges that need to be explored. These complex supply dynamics are shifting rapidly. \nIt is a complex\, interconnected problem that needs to be explored\, understood and addressed with a futures lens and systems approach. \nREGISTER TODAY \n*Note: through the generosity of our wonderful sponsors\, everyone who registers will receive a promotional discount code from both The Big Carrot and The Spent Goods Company. \n#3: May 19\, Thursday at 12 PM ET: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-reimagined-future-of-food-security-and-climate-resiliency-week-3-tickets-323311000907 \nFOCUS: Future Food Distribution and Sustainability. \nSPEAKERS: \nDr. Charlebois is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab\, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie\, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute\, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”\, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution\, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world’s most cited scholars in food supply chain management\, food value chains and traceability. \nJess Newman is the Senior Director of Agriculture & Sustainability at McCain Foods\, the world’s largest manufacturer of frozen potato products and appetizers. Her team of agronomists and field representatives are responsible for all the sweet potatoes\, peppers\, onions\, zucchini\, and other vegetables purchased directly from farmers. They also implement McCain’s 2025 sustainability goals related to agriculture: 100% of farmers implementing regenerative practices\, 25% reduction in farming CO2 emissions intensity\, 15% improvement in irrigation water use efficiency in water-stressed regions\, and the launch of three Farms of the Future. \nJess works remotely from her home state of Michigan and travels frequently to support her team (when covid allows). \nJess is passionate about sustainability in agricultural supply chains. Her philosophy is to meet farmers where they are and help them move along the sustainability spectrum – while creating profitability too! Talking to farmers is what energizes her. Shas worked at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization\, Ecologic Institute\, New York City Mayor’s Office of Sustainability\, Booz & Company\, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)\, and Anheuser-Busch. She holds a B.A. from Harvard\, an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government\, and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management (with Sustainability Certificate). She loves baking bread\, sci-fi/fantasy\, and cats. \nDihan started his first social enterprise\, Organic Lifestyle\, to focus on promoting non-toxic alternatives for the home\, such as organic pillows\, linens\, and mattresses. \nWhile researching whether his dog’s poo could be used to generate energy to power his house\, instead of having to pick it up\, he was inspired by solutions that made revenue from plastic pollution\, cementing his belief that practical solutions to reducing waste while generating profits are within our reach. \nOne night at his local pub\, Dihan asked the question we’ve all been too shy to ask: What happens to all the grain used to make beer? \nAfter learning that most spent grain\, especially from smaller breweries\, ends up in landfills\, The Spent Goods Company was born. The company is currently working with craft breweries to transform their leftover barley grains (spent grains) into delicious food. \n#4: May 26\, Thursday at 12 PM ET: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-reimagined-future-of-food-security-and-climate-resiliency-week-4-tickets-323379666287 \nFOCUS: The Future of Food Security for Communities and Cities. \nSPEAKERS: \nDr. Kim ZeuliFounder and Managing DirectorFeeding Cities Group – USA \nDr. Zeuli established the Feeding Cities Group in 2019 to mobilize the vision for resilient urban food systems she forged while serving as the Senior Vice President at the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC). Kim holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics and has extensive experience as a researcher and consultant working on food system issues in the U.S. and globally. She has worked in and with corporations\, government agencies\, philanthropic and non-profit organizations as a thought leader and trusted advisor at the intersection of food systems\, disaster risk mitigation and community development. \nPhil Fung\, P.Eng.Founder & PresidentHiGarden \nPhil Fung is a Consulting Engineer (Energy and Sustainability) in Ontario\, Canada. His areas of expertise are energy efficient and sustainable buildings design\, nature-inspired regenerative buildings design\, energy modelling\, and LEED certification management. Starting his career as an Automation & Robotics Engineer\, Phil accepted the part-time professorship at Humber College in 2012. Phil’s overarching design principle is “Buildings like the forest ecosystems.” Using nature as mentor and tool\, Phil designed and applied for patent of his Vertical Indoor Aquatic Ecosystem – Vertical Indoor Garden (VIGA™) – in early 2014 which was based on biomimetic\, biophilic\, and bio-synergistic design principles. Recently\, Phil secured a research grant from NSERC (National Science and Engineering Research Council) using biophilic design to enhance the mental health of people working from home and improve their productivity and effectiveness. \nKate McMurrayEducation OutreachThe Big Carrot \nKate is a certified nutritionist and healthy food systems advocate. For 10 years her work at The Big Carrot has focused on championing organic agriculture\, building better food literacy\, and fostering creative partnerships in the community. \nThe Big Carrot is a worker-owned natural food market that has been committed to local\, organic\, non-GMO and sustainable food systems since 1983. Growing from 9 founding partners to a thriving worker-owned business\, The Big Carrot is run in the same democratic manner as when it first opened. Its approach to health includes creating and protecting sustainable\, robust food systems and facilitating community innovation. Each year The Big Carrot funds two grant streams: Carrot Cache and Natures Finest Fund which support sustainable farming and equitable food systems in Ontario. \nMike CarterFounderFirst Green Energy \nThe opportunity Mike sees in agri-voltaics threads his collective experience and fuels his ambition to be a change maker and accelerator of the energy transition through an agricultural lens. \nMike has been involved with the renewable energy industry for most of his life. He has led teams to develop and operate utility-scale solar\, energy storage and hydroelectric projects throughout Canada and the US. Under First Green Energy\, Mike has returned to his roots and has redoubled his attention to the acceleration of the electrification transition in Canada bringing his personal background in farming and applying his professional experience towards expanding agrivoltaics into Canada. \nMike founded First Green Energy in 2007 as a renewable energy development consultancy after growing up supporting his family’s hydroelectric business endeavours. Mike has held many roles concurrent to his renewable experience including mining\, manufacturing\, agriculture\, and automotive sectors. For the past 20 years\, Mike has also managed his family’s farm operations\, where he was named Entrepreneur of the Year for Halton Hills in 2013. Through his farming efforts Mike led various endeavours seeking added value from a difficult to resolve agricultural reality for many of today’s family farms. These efforts included organic strawberry growing \, on-farm market development\, traditional cash cropping\, and market gardening. \nThrough all of his experiences in energy\, farming and elsewhere\, Mike has continually developed strong business relationships with ever diverse parties to contemplate\, realize and deliver innovative business outcomes. \nYasmin GlanvilleFounder\, FuturistRethink Sustainability Initiatives \nYasmin is a recognized futurist\, innovation and growth strategist and advisor for leaders\, boards\, organizations and communities in the Americas\, Caribbean and Europe. \nShe specializes in helping clients explore the future and mobilize best fit approaches and solutions to thrive in the new realities of a highly disruptive world impacted by Covid 19\, climate change\, digitization\, inflation\, social-economic inequities and more. \nBacked by 30+ years of international experience as both an executive and a senior advisor for and with corporations\, government/NGOs and NFPs\, Energy/Social Innovation Hubs\, entrepreneurs and philanthropists she is a sought-after keynote speaker and strategic advisor. \nYasmin uses a similar futurist-systems thinking approach for community initiatives. \nThis includes the 2021-2022 RSI Community Climate Action project by and with St James Town members\, a dedicated project team and experts from seven countries – funded in part by the Government of Canada. \nIn 2011\, she founded RSI as a go-to knowledge exchange for senior leaders to broaden their understanding of how important it is to embed sustainability and resiliency as core business priorities vs. a sideline. \nSince then\, RSI has evolved into a global brand\, spanning all sectors\, with a common focus on building a more resilient\, just\, and sustainable future. RSI collaborates with a diverse and inclusive ecosystem of senior and emerging leaders\, partnerships\, associations and youth. \n********* \nEvent Sponsors: \n********* \n \nTo learn more and to explore other ways of getting involved\, including partnership opportunities\, contact: \nPatrick Gossage at pgossage@rethinksustainability.ca / mobile (416) 347-1862 and communications@rethinksustainability.ca\, urvil.villaruel@rethinksustainability.ca \nAbout the Series Organizer and Contact Information \nRSI is a dynamic “think-do” knowledge exchange that helps executives\, entrepreneurs and innovators examine the challenges they face while helping them identify strategies and insights for advancing the sustainability and resiliency of business and society to thrive into the future. Our exchange\, through formal and informal discussions\, action-learning accelerators\, workshops\, keynote presentations and publications\, provides access to progressive leaders and actionable insights for Canadians and our global partners. \nFor more information:\nEmail: communications@rethinksustainability.ca
URL:https://rethinksustainability.ca/event/a-reimagined-future-of-food-security-and-climate-resiliency-week-3/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Upcoming Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20220512T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20220512T130000
DTSTAMP:20260415T175813
CREATED:20220419T155720Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220609T122742Z
UID:4267-1652356800-1652360400@rethinksustainability.ca
SUMMARY:
DESCRIPTION:Speaker Series \n\nWatch our recap video below: \n\nJoin RSI for a series of weekly action learning speaker webinars during the month of May 2022. \n\nDesigned for action learning\, the speaker series features a diversity of topic related leaders and experts recognized for their innovative\, inclusive and systems thinking in advancing food security and climate resiliency in Canada and abroad to get their views on the future of food in a time of great change. \n\nWhy now? Why a Systems Approach?\nOver 5.6 million Canadians live with food insecurity\, hunger and poverty every day of their lives! With the impacts of Covid-19\, rising inflation and climate change across the supply chain\, the actual number of people living with hunger is likely a lot higher than what’s reported. \nThe 2022 Food Price Report for Canada forecasts a 5% to 7% increase in food prices in 2022\, the highest in its 12-year history. This translates to an annual cost of food of $14\,767 for the average Canadian family – an increase of $966 over 2021. \nThis is a highly concerning figure for Canada’s most vulnerable people. There is more than enough food produced to nourish every Canadian\, but over 50% of our produce gets wasted. There are clear systemic challenges that need to be explored. These complex supply dynamics are shifting rapidly. \nIt is a complex\, interconnected problem that needs to be explored\, understood and addressed with a futures lens and systems approach. \nREGISTER TODAY \nSeparate Eventbrite registration links are included with each the speaker dates\, listed below: \n#2: May 12\, Thursday at 12 PM ET: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-reimagined-future-of-food-security-and-climate-resiliency-week-2-tickets-323294972967 \nFOCUS: Transitioning to health promoting and locally sourced\, sustainable food supply for Canada. \nSPEAKERS: \nDr. MacRae is a sought-after expert on health-promoting and sustainable food and agriculture systems. He writes and speaks extensively on these themes in the academic and popular press; and. consults to government\, business and NGOs\, and teaches at York. He has a PhD from McGill. \n \nBrenda Hsueh is a Chinese Canadian organic farmer who has been farming at her 40 acre farm\, Black Sheep Farm\, since 2009. She spent over a decade working in the financial industry in Toronto\, before pursuing her dream of regenerative agriculture. Over the years\, she has been joined at the farm by her partner\, Skyler\, and their daughter Emma. They grow organic vegetables for CSA members on a no-till vegetable plot\, and practice intensive managed sheep grazing on 20+ acres of pastures. The rest of the farm is planted to trees\, and has a pond for amphibious life and all those needing a watering hole. The priority for the farm is to increase biodiversity and habitat\, sequestering carbon by keeping living roots in the ground\, while also producing nutritious and flavourful food for the farm’s community. Brenda is also working with Farmers for Climate Solutions to roll out their Farm Resilience Mentorship program (FaRM) as there is so much potential for climate change mitigation\, and maybe even reversal\, if agriculture starts to make some major shifts.  \nMatt is a systems-thinker working on environmental\, conservation and sustainability problems. He works across disciplines – including biodiversity\, ecosystem science and agriculture – to develop new urban agriculture technologies. He has worked for Environment Canada\, consulted internationally and researched widely in academia. He applies his broad experience to developing insights and solutions that can enable a greener and more resilient future. He has a PhD in Ecology from McMaster University and an MSc in Marine Science from University of Otago\, New Zealand. \n \nYasmin is a recognized futurist\, innovation and growth strategist and advisor for leaders\, boards\, organizations and communities in the Americas\, Caribbean and Europe.  \nShe specializes in helping clients explore the future and mobilize best fit approaches and solutions to thrive in the new realities of a highly disruptive world impacted by Covid 19\, climate change\, digitization\, inflation\, social-economic inequities and more. \nBacked by 30+ years of international experience as both an executive and a senior advisor for and with corporations\, government/NGOs and NFPs\,  Energy/Social Innovation Hubs\, entrepreneurs and philanthropists she is a sought-after keynote speaker and strategic advisor.  \nYasmin uses a similar futurist-systems thinking approach for community initiatives. \nThis includes the 2021-2022 RSI Community Climate Action project by and with St James Town members\, a dedicated project team and experts from seven countries – funded in part by the Government of Canada. \nIn 2011\, she founded RSI as a go-to knowledge exchange for senior leaders to broaden their understanding of how important it is to embed sustainability and resiliency as core business priorities vs. a sideline. \nSince then\, RSI has evolved into a global brand\, spanning all sectors\, with a common focus on building a more resilient\, just\, and sustainable future. RSI collaborates with a diverse and inclusive ecosystem of senior and emerging leaders\, partnerships\, associations and youth. \n \nArticles Related To This Event: \n• Food Policy for Canada – York University. • Food Waste – York University.• Sustainable Food – York University. \n#3: May 19\, Thursday at 12 PM ET: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-reimagined-future-of-food-security-and-climate-resiliency-week-3-tickets-323311000907 \nFOCUS: Future Food Distribution and Sustainability. \nSPEAKERS: \nSylvain Charlebois\, PhDResearcher and Professor\, Food Distribution and Food PolicyFaculties of Management and AgricultureDalhousie University \nDr. Charlebois is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab\, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie\, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute\, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”\, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution\, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world’s most cited scholars in food supply chain management\, food value chains and traceability. \nJess NewmanSenior Director of Agriculture and SustainabilityMcCain Foods \nJess Newman is the Senior Director of Agriculture & Sustainability at McCain Foods\, the world’s largest manufacturer of frozen potato products and appetizers. Her team of agronomists and field representatives are responsible for all the sweet potatoes\, peppers\, onions\, zucchini\, and other vegetables purchased directly from farmers. They also implement McCain’s 2025 sustainability goals related to agriculture: 100% of farmers implementing regenerative practices\, 25% reduction in farming CO2 emissions intensity\, 15% improvement in irrigation water use efficiency in water-stressed regions\, and the launch of three Farms of the Future.  \nJess works remotely from her home state of Michigan and travels frequently to support her team (when covid allows). \nJess is passionate about sustainability in agricultural supply chains. Her philosophy is to meet farmers where they are and help them move along the sustainability spectrum – while creating profitability too! Talking to farmers is what energizes her. Shas worked at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization\, Ecologic Institute\, New York City Mayor’s Office of Sustainability\, Booz & Company\, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)\, and Anheuser-Busch. She holds a B.A. from Harvard\, an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government\, and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management (with Sustainability Certificate). She loves baking bread\, sci-fi/fantasy\, and cats.  \nDihan ChandraFounderThe Spent Goods Company \nDihan started his first social enterprise\, Organic Lifestyle\, to focus on promoting non-toxic alternatives for the home\, such as organic pillows\, linens\, and mattresses. \nWhile researching whether his dog’s poo could be used to generate energy to power his house\, instead of having to pick it up\, he was inspired by solutions that made revenue from plastic pollution\, cementing his belief that practical solutions to reducing waste while generating profits are within our reach. \nOne night at his local pub\, Dihan asked the question we’ve all been too shy to ask: What happens to all the grain used to make beer? \nAfter learning that most spent grain\, especially from smaller breweries\, ends up in landfills\, The Spent Goods Company was born. The company is currently working with craft breweries to transform their leftover barley grains (spent grains) into delicious food. \n#4: May 26\, Thursday at 12 PM ET: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-reimagined-future-of-food-security-and-climate-resiliency-week-4-tickets-323379666287 \nFOCUS: The Future of Food Security for Communities and Cities. \nSPEAKERS: \nDr. Kim ZeuliFounder and Managing DirectorFeeding Cities Group – USA \nDr. Zeuli established the Feeding Cities Group in 2019 to mobilize the vision for resilient urban food systems she forged while serving as the Senior Vice President at the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC). Kim holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics and has extensive experience as a researcher and consultant working on food system issues in the U.S. and globally. She has worked in and with corporations\, government agencies\, philanthropic and non-profit organizations as a thought leader and trusted advisor at the intersection of food systems\, disaster risk mitigation and community development. \nPhil Fung\, P.Eng.Founder & PresidentHiGarden \nPhil Fung is a Consulting Engineer (Energy and Sustainability) in Ontario\, Canada. His areas of expertise are energy efficient and sustainable buildings design\, nature-inspired regenerative buildings design\, energy modelling\, and LEED certification management. Starting his career as an Automation & Robotics Engineer\, Phil accepted the part-time professorship at Humber College in 2012. Phil’s overarching design principle is “Buildings like the forest ecosystems.” Using nature as mentor and tool\, Phil designed and applied for patent of his Vertical Indoor Aquatic Ecosystem – Vertical Indoor Garden (VIGA™) – in early 2014 which was based on biomimetic\, biophilic\, and bio-synergistic design principles. Recently\, Phil secured a research grant from NSERC (National Science and Engineering Research Council) using biophilic design to enhance the mental health of people working from home and improve their productivity and effectiveness.  \nKate McMurrayEducation OutreachThe Big Carrot \n \nKate is a certified nutritionist and healthy food systems advocate. For 10 years her work at The Big Carrot has focused on championing organic agriculture\, building better food literacy\, and fostering creative partnerships in the community.  \n \nThe Big Carrot is a worker-owned natural food market that has been committed to local\, organic\, non-GMO and sustainable food systems since 1983. Growing from 9 founding partners to a thriving worker-owned business\, The Big Carrot is run in the same democratic manner as when it first opened. Its approach to health includes creating and protecting sustainable\, robust food systems and facilitating community innovation. Each year The Big Carrot funds two grant streams: Carrot Cache and Natures Finest Fund which support sustainable farming and equitable food systems in Ontario. \nMike CarterFounderFirst Green Energy \nThe opportunity Mike sees in agri-voltaics threads his collective experience and fuels his ambition to be a change maker and accelerator of the energy transition through an agricultural lens. \nMike has been involved with the renewable energy industry for most of his life. He has led teams to develop and operate utility-scale solar\, energy storage and hydroelectric projects throughout Canada and the US. Under First Green Energy\, Mike has returned to his roots and has redoubled his attention to the acceleration of the electrification transition in Canada bringing his personal background in farming and applying his professional experience towards expanding agrivoltaics into Canada. \nMike founded First Green Energy in 2007 as a renewable energy development consultancy after growing up supporting his family’s hydroelectric business endeavours. Mike has held many roles concurrent to his renewable experience including mining\, manufacturing\, agriculture\, and automotive sectors. For the past 20 years\, Mike has also managed his family’s farm operations\, where he was named Entrepreneur of the Year for Halton Hills in 2013. Through his farming efforts Mike led various endeavours seeking added value from a difficult to resolve agricultural reality for many of today’s family farms. These efforts included organic strawberry growing \, on-farm market development\, traditional cash cropping\, and market gardening. \nThrough all of his experiences in energy\, farming and elsewhere\, Mike has continually developed strong business relationships with ever diverse parties to contemplate\, realize and deliver innovative business outcomes. \nYasmin GlanvilleFounder\, FuturistRethink Sustainability Initiatives \nYasmin is a recognized futurist\, innovation and growth strategist and advisor for leaders\, boards\, organizations and communities in the Americas\, Caribbean and Europe.  \n \nShe specializes in helping clients explore the future and mobilize best fit approaches and solutions to thrive in the new realities of a highly disruptive world impacted by Covid 19\, climate change\, digitization\, inflation\, social-economic inequities and more. \nBacked by 30+ years of international experience as both an executive and a senior advisor for and with corporations\, government/NGOs and NFPs\,  Energy/Social Innovation Hubs\, entrepreneurs and philanthropists she is a sought-after keynote speaker and strategic advisor.  \nYasmin uses a similar futurist-systems thinking approach for community initiatives. \nThis includes the 2021-2022 RSI Community Climate Action project by and with St James Town members\, a dedicated project team and experts from seven countries – funded in part by the Government of Canada. \nIn 2011\, she founded RSI as a go-to knowledge exchange for senior leaders to broaden their understanding of how important it is to embed sustainability and resiliency as core business priorities vs. a sideline. \nSince then\, RSI has evolved into a global brand\, spanning all sectors\, with a common focus on building a more resilient\, just\, and sustainable future. RSI collaborates with a diverse and inclusive ecosystem of senior and emerging leaders\, partnerships\, associations and youth. \n*********Event Sponsors: \n********* \nTo learn more and to explore other ways of getting involved\, including partnership opportunities\, contact: \nPatrick Gossage at pgossage@rethinksustainability.ca / mobile (416) 347-1862 and communications@rethinksustainability.ca\, urvil.villaruel@rethinksustainability.ca \nAbout the Series Organizer and Contact Information \nRSI is a dynamic “think-do” knowledge exchange that helps executives\, entrepreneurs and innovators examine the challenges they face while helping them identify strategies and insights for advancing the sustainability and resiliency of business and society to thrive into the future. Our exchange\, through formal and informal discussions\, action-learning accelerators\, workshops\, keynote presentations and publications\, provides access to progressive leaders and actionable insights for Canadians and our global partners. \nFor more information:\nEmail: communications@rethinksustainability.ca
URL:https://rethinksustainability.ca/event/a-reimagined-future-of-food-security-and-climate-resiliency-week-2/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Upcoming Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20220505T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20220505T120000
DTSTAMP:20260415T175813
CREATED:20220419T143608Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220613T124438Z
UID:4237-1651748400-1651752000@rethinksustainability.ca
SUMMARY:
DESCRIPTION:Speaker Series \n\nWatch our recap video below: \n\nJoin RSI for a series of weekly\, one-hour action learning speaker webinars during the month of May 2022. \n\nDesigned for action learning\, the speaker series features a diversity of topic related leaders and experts recognized for their innovative\, inclusive and systems thinking in advancing food security and climate resiliency in Canada and abroad to get their views on the future of food in a time of great change. \n\nWhy now? Why a Systems Approach?\nOver 5.6 million Canadians live with food insecurity\, hunger and poverty every day of their lives! With the impacts of Covid-19\, rising inflation and climate change across the supply chain\, the actual number of people living with hunger is likely a lot higher than what’s reported. \nThe 2022 Food Price Report for Canada forecasts a 5% to 7% increase in food prices in 2022\, the highest in its 12-year history. This translates to an annual cost of food of $14\,767 for the average Canadian family – an increase of $966 over 2021. \nThis is a highly concerning figure for Canada’s most vulnerable people. There is more than enough food produced to nourish every Canadian\, but over 50% of our produce gets wasted. There are clear systemic challenges that need to be explored. These complex supply dynamics are shifting rapidly. \nIt is a complex\, interconnected problem that needs to be explored\, understood and addressed with a futures lens and systems approach.  \nREGISTER TODAY \nSeparate Eventbrite registration links are included with each the speaker dates\, listed below: \n#1: May 5\, Thursday at 11 AM ET: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-reimagined-future-of-food-security-and-climate-resiliency-week-1-tickets-319796970347 \nFOCUS: Rethinking and Repurposing Food Waste. A Circular Economy of Well being\, Business\, Communities and Cities. \nSPEAKERS \n\nAs a senior economist\, Dr. Beaudoin brings an ‘economics for transition’ lens to the Foundation aimed at helping to enable a socially thriving and ecologically sustainable Canada. He applies the art of change and participatory social processes to a variety of themes that include: adaptation to uncertain climate futures\, embedding local\, traditional and indigenous knowledge in policy decision and choice-making\, and promoting a transition to a sustainable relationship between society and Nature. From his decade with the United Nations\, prior to his return to Canada in 2018\, he has been facilitating conversations around the world\, highlighting solution pathways towards a well-being centric\, beyond GDP economic system. Most recently\, he has been co-leading the inception of the Well-being Economies Alliance for Canada and Sovereign Indigenous Nations (WEAll Can) to help in the re-imagination of the purpose of an economy. \n\nToo Good To Go is the leading app for fighting food waste and is championing the movement into the Canadian market. \nSam moved to Toronto as a first-generation immigrant more than 23 years ago. His first job in Canada was in the food service industry where he saw\, firsthand\, how consumer demand for speed and selection produced a consequential increase in food waste! Since then\, his love for food has taken him to more than twenty countries around the world discovering many new cuisines\, transforming his relationship with food from “love” to “respect”. \nHe has held multiple leadership positions in both global and scale up organizations and was recognized by Marketing Magazine’s “30 under 30” in 2014. \nHis constant focus is balancing performance with purpose and empowering Canadians to join the fight against food waste. \n\nDr. Tammara Soma MCIP RPP is an Assistant Professor at the School of Resource and Environmental Management (Planning program) at Simon Fraser University and Research Director of the Food Systems Lab. Originally hailing from Indonesia\, she conducts research on issues pertaining to food loss and waste (FLW)\, food system planning\, food access\, and the circular food economy. Dr. Soma is a Co-editor of the Routledge Handbook of Food Waste\, and co-founder of the International Food Loss and Food Waste Studies group\, a global network of FLW researchers and practitioners. Dr. Soma was selected as a committee member of the US National Academies of Science and co-authored the consensus study A National Strategy to Reduce Consumer Food Waste. She leads numerous tri-council funded research projects and is routinely featured in international and local media (BBC\, CBC\, TVO\, CTV\, Huffington Post\, National Observer\, Chatelaine and more). In 2021\, the Food Systems Lab was recognized as one out of the four women-run projects that are redefining agriculture by the Canadian Organic Grower. She was also named by Chatelaine magazine as one of the 10 inspiring Canadian women saving the environment. She is a registered professional planner and a proud mother of three. \n\nNeil Hetherington joined Daily Bread Food Bank as CEO in January 2018. Neil began his career in project management at Tridel Construction\, Canada’s largest condominium developer. In September 2000\, he made a career change by joining Habitat for Humanity Toronto\, at the time as the youngest CEO of a Habitat affiliate in the world. Neil’s non-profit experience includes 16 years as CEO of Habitat for Humanity in Toronto\, and then New York City\, and two years as CEO of Dixon Hall\, a multi-service agency with 240 staff serving thousands of people in Toronto through its social programs\, shelters\, seniors programs\, youth initiatives and community revitalization efforts. Neil holds degrees or certificates from the University of Western Ontario – Huron College\, Seneca College\, Harvard Business School and the University of Virginia – Darden Business School. He obtained his MBA from the University of Western Ontario’s Ivey Business School in 2013. He is an active pilot and sailor. He enjoys furniture making and in his spare time plays tennis terribly\, snowboards poorly and bikes slowly. \nThought leadership publications by/ related to the May 5th Food Security and Climate Resiliency Themes\nFrom Sam Kashani\, Too Good to Go\n• The fastest way to combat climate change is by reducing food waste. And the fastest way to reduce waste is to democratize it.\n•  A Single Action\, We Should Start There.\n• Now is better than New.\nFrom The Daily Bread Food Bank\n• Government Public Policy Drives Number of Food Bank Visits: New Report.\n• Government Public Policy Drives Number of Food Bank Visits: Key Findings.\n• Take action now to make food banks obsolete!\n• At The Table Daily Bread Spring 2022 Newsletter.• 23% of Canadians Report Eating “Less than They Should” Due to Rising Inflation. \n\nFrom Dr Tammara Soma\, Simon Fraser\n• Soma\, T. (2022). Critical food guidance for tackling food waste in Canada: A closed-loop food system alternative to the food recovery hierarchy. Canadian Food Studies\, 9(1).\n• Rajasooriar\, D.\, Soma\, T. (2022). Food access\, mobility\, and transportation: a survey and key informant interviews of users of non-profit food hubs in the City of Vancouver before and during the COVID-19 crisis. BMC Public Health 22\, 6.\n• Soma\, T.\, and Nuckchady\, B. (2021). Communicating the Benefits and Risks of Digital Agriculture Technologies: Perspectives on the Future of Digital Agricultural Education and Training Frontiers Communications.\n• Committee\, National Academies of Sciences “A National Strategy to Reduce Food Waste at the Consumer Level: Consensus Report”. \nAbout The Other May Events and Registration Links\n \n#2: May 12\, Thursday at 12 PM ET: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-reimagined-future-of-food-security-and-climate-resiliency-week-2-tickets-323294972967 \nFOCUS: Transitioning to health promoting and locally sourced\, sustainable food supply for Canada. \nSPEAKERS: \nRod MacRae\, PhD\nFood Policy Analyst\, Associate Professor\nYork University\, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change  \nDr. MacRae is a sought-after expert on health-promoting and sustainable food and agriculture systems. He writes and speaks extensively on these themes in the academic and popular press; and. consults to government\, business and NGOs\, and teaches at York. He has a PhD from McGill. \nBrenda Hsueh\nOrganic Farmer\nBlack Sheep Farm \nBrenda Hsueh is a Chinese Canadian organic farmer who has been farming at her 40 acre farm\, Black Sheep Farm\, since 2009. She spent over a decade working in the financial industry in Toronto\, before pursuing her dream of regenerative agriculture. Over the years\, she has been joined at the farm by her partner\, Skyler\, and their daughter Emma. They grow organic vegetables for CSA members on a no-till vegetable plot\, and practice intensive managed sheep grazing on 20+ acres of pastures. The rest of the farm is planted to trees\, and has a pond for amphibious life and all those needing a watering hole. The priority for the farm is to increase biodiversity and habitat\, sequestering carbon by keeping living roots in the ground\, while also producing nutritious and flavourful food for the farm’s community. Brenda is also working with Farmers for Climate Solutions to roll out their Farm Resilience Mentorship program (FaRM) as there is so much potential for climate change mitigation\, and maybe even reversal\, if agriculture starts to make some major shifts. \nMatt Hammond\, PhD\nChief Technology Officer\nHiGarden \nMatt is a systems-thinker working on environmental\, conservation and sustainability problems. He works across disciplines – including biodiversity\, ecosystem science and agriculture – to develop new urban agriculture technologies. He has worked for Environment Canada\, consulted internationally and researched widely in academia. He applies his broad experience to developing insights and solutions that can enable a greener and more resilient future. He has a PhD in Ecology from McMaster University and an MSc in Marine Science from University of Otago\, New Zealand.\n \nYasmin GlanvilleFounder\, FuturistRethink Sustainability Initiatives \nYasmin is a recognized futurist\, innovation and growth strategist and advisor for leaders\, boards\, organizations and communities in the Americas\, Caribbean and Europe. \nShe specializes in helping clients explore the future and mobilize best fit approaches and solutions to thrive in the new realities of a highly disruptive world impacted by Covid 19\, climate change\, digitization\, inflation\, social-economic inequities and more. \nBacked by 30+ years of international experience as both an executive and a senior advisor for and with corporations\, government/NGOs and NFPs\, Energy/Social Innovation Hubs\, entrepreneurs and philanthropists she is a sought-after keynote speaker and strategic advisor. \nYasmin uses a similar futurist-systems thinking approach for community initiatives. \nThis includes the 2021-2022 RSI Community Climate Action project by and with St James Town members\, a dedicated project team and experts from seven countries – funded in part by the Government of Canada. \nIn 2011\, she founded RSI as a go-to knowledge exchange for senior leaders to broaden their understanding of how important it is to embed sustainability and resiliency as core business priorities vs. a sideline. \nSince then\, RSI has evolved into a global brand\, spanning all sectors\, with a common focus on building a more resilient\, just\, and sustainable future. RSI collaborates with a diverse and inclusive ecosystem of senior and emerging leaders\, partnerships\, associations and youth. \n#3: May 19\, Thursday at 12 PM ET: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-reimagined-future-of-food-security-and-climate-resiliency-week-3-tickets-323311000907 \nFOCUS: Future Food Distribution and Sustainability. \nSPEAKERS: \nSylvain Charlebois\, PhD\nResearcher and Professor\, Food Distribution and Food Policy\nFaculties of Management and Agriculture\nDalhousie University \nDr. Charlebois is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab\, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie\, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute\, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”\, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution\, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world’s most cited scholars in food supply chain management\, food value chains and traceability. \nJess NewmanSenior Director of Agriculture and SustainabilityMcCain Foods \nJess Newman is the Senior Director of Agriculture & Sustainability at McCain Foods\, the world’s largest manufacturer of frozen potato products and appetizers. Her team of agronomists and field representatives are responsible for all the sweet potatoes\, peppers\, onions\, zucchini\, and other vegetables purchased directly from farmers. They also implement McCain’s 2025 sustainability goals related to agriculture: 100% of farmers implementing regenerative practices\, 25% reduction in farming CO2 emissions intensity\, 15% improvement in irrigation water use efficiency in water-stressed regions\, and the launch of three Farms of the Future. \nJess works remotely from her home state of Michigan and travels frequently to support her team (when covid allows). \nJess is passionate about sustainability in agricultural supply chains. Her philosophy is to meet farmers where they are and help them move along the sustainability spectrum – while creating profitability too! Talking to farmers is what energizes her. Shas worked at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization\, Ecologic Institute\, New York City Mayor’s Office of Sustainability\, Booz & Company\, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)\, and Anheuser-Busch. She holds a B.A. from Harvard\, an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government\, and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management (with Sustainability Certificate). She loves baking bread\, sci-fi/fantasy\, and cats. \nDihan ChandraFounderThe Spent Goods Company \nDihan started his first social enterprise\, Organic Lifestyle\, to focus on promoting non-toxic alternatives for the home\, such as organic pillows\, linens\, and mattresses. \nWhile researching whether his dog’s poo could be used to generate energy to power his house\, instead of having to pick it up\, he was inspired by solutions that made revenue from plastic pollution\, cementing his belief that practical solutions to reducing waste while generating profits are within our reach. \nOne night at his local pub\, Dihan asked the question we’ve all been too shy to ask: What happens to all the grain used to make beer? \nAfter learning that most spent grain\, especially from smaller breweries\, ends up in landfills\, The Spent Goods Company was born. The company is currently working with craft breweries to transform their leftover barley grains (spent grains) into delicious food. \n#4: May 26\, Thursday at 12 PM ET: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-reimagined-future-of-food-security-and-climate-resiliency-week-4-tickets-323379666287 \nFOCUS: The Future of Food Security for Communities and Cities. \nSPEAKERS: \nDr. Kim ZeuliFounder and Managing DirectorFeeding Cities Group – USA \nDr. Zeuli established the Feeding Cities Group in 2019 to mobilize the vision for resilient urban food systems she forged while serving as the Senior Vice President at the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC). Kim holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics and has extensive experience as a researcher and consultant working on food system issues in the U.S. and globally. She has worked in and with corporations\, government agencies\, philanthropic and non-profit organizations as a thought leader and trusted advisor at the intersection of food systems\, disaster risk mitigation and community development. \nPhil Fung\, P.Eng.Founder & PresidentHiGarden \nPhil Fung is a Consulting Engineer (Energy and Sustainability) in Ontario\, Canada. His areas of expertise are energy efficient and sustainable buildings design\, nature-inspired regenerative buildings design\, energy modelling\, and LEED certification management. Starting his career as an Automation & Robotics Engineer\, Phil accepted the part-time professorship at Humber College in 2012. Phil’s overarching design principle is “Buildings like the forest ecosystems.” Using nature as mentor and tool\, Phil designed and applied for patent of his Vertical Indoor Aquatic Ecosystem – Vertical Indoor Garden (VIGA™) – in early 2014 which was based on biomimetic\, biophilic\, and bio-synergistic design principles. Recently\, Phil secured a research grant from NSERC (National Science and Engineering Research Council) using biophilic design to enhance the mental health of people working from home and improve their productivity and effectiveness. \nKate McMurrayEducation OutreachThe Big Carrot \nKate is a certified nutritionist and healthy food systems advocate. For 10 years her work at The Big Carrot has focused on championing organic agriculture\, building better food literacy\, and fostering creative partnerships in the community. \nThe Big Carrot is a worker-owned natural food market that has been committed to local\, organic\, non-GMO and sustainable food systems since 1983. Growing from 9 founding partners to a thriving worker-owned business\, The Big Carrot is run in the same democratic manner as when it first opened. Its approach to health includes creating and protecting sustainable\, robust food systems and facilitating community innovation. Each year The Big Carrot funds two grant streams: Carrot Cache and Natures Finest Fund which support sustainable farming and equitable food systems in Ontario. \nMike CarterFounderFirst Green Energy \nThe opportunity Mike sees in agri-voltaics threads his collective experience and fuels his ambition to be a change maker and accelerator of the energy transition through an agricultural lens. \nMike has been involved with the renewable energy industry for most of his life. He has led teams to develop and operate utility-scale solar\, energy storage and hydroelectric projects throughout Canada and the US. Under First Green Energy\, Mike has returned to his roots and has redoubled his attention to the acceleration of the electrification transition in Canada bringing his personal background in farming and applying his professional experience towards expanding agrivoltaics into Canada. \nMike founded First Green Energy in 2007 as a renewable energy development consultancy after growing up supporting his family’s hydroelectric business endeavours. Mike has held many roles concurrent to his renewable experience including mining\, manufacturing\, agriculture\, and automotive sectors. For the past 20 years\, Mike has also managed his family’s farm operations\, where he was named Entrepreneur of the Year for Halton Hills in 2013. Through his farming efforts Mike led various endeavours seeking added value from a difficult to resolve agricultural reality for many of today’s family farms. These efforts included organic strawberry growing \, on-farm market development\, traditional cash cropping\, and market gardening. \nThrough all of his experiences in energy\, farming and elsewhere\, Mike has continually developed strong business relationships with ever diverse parties to contemplate\, realize and deliver innovative business outcomes. \nYasmin GlanvilleFounder\, FuturistRethink Sustainability Initiatives \nYasmin is a recognized futurist\, innovation and growth strategist and advisor for leaders\, boards\, organizations and communities in the Americas\, Caribbean and Europe. \nShe specializes in helping clients explore the future and mobilize best fit approaches and solutions to thrive in the new realities of a highly disruptive world impacted by Covid 19\, climate change\, digitization\, inflation\, social-economic inequities and more. \nBacked by 30+ years of international experience as both an executive and a senior advisor for and with corporations\, government/NGOs and NFPs\, Energy/Social Innovation Hubs\, entrepreneurs and philanthropists she is a sought-after keynote speaker and strategic advisor. \nYasmin uses a similar futurist-systems thinking approach for community initiatives. \nThis includes the 2021-2022 RSI Community Climate Action project by and with St James Town members\, a dedicated project team and experts from seven countries – funded in part by the Government of Canada. \nIn 2011\, she founded RSI as a go-to knowledge exchange for senior leaders to broaden their understanding of how important it is to embed sustainability and resiliency as core business priorities vs. a sideline. \nSince then\, RSI has evolved into a global brand\, spanning all sectors\, with a common focus on building a more resilient\, just\, and sustainable future. RSI collaborates with a diverse and inclusive ecosystem of senior and emerging leaders\, partnerships\, associations and youth. \n********* \nEvent Sponsors: \n********* \nTo learn more and to explore other ways of getting involved\, including partnership opportunities\, contact: \nPatrick Gossage at pgossage@rethinksustainability.ca / mobile (416) 347-1862 and communications@rethinksustainability.ca\, urvil.villaruel@rethinksustainability.ca \nAbout the Series Organizer and Contact Information \nRSI is a dynamic “think-do” knowledge exchange that helps executives\, entrepreneurs and innovators examine the challenges they face while helping them identify strategies and insights for advancing the sustainability and resiliency of business and society to thrive into the future. Our exchange\, through formal and informal discussions\, action-learning accelerators\, workshops\, keynote presentations and publications\, provides access to progressive leaders and actionable insights for Canadians and our global partners. \nFor more information:\nEmail: communications@rethinksustainability.ca
URL:https://rethinksustainability.ca/event/a-reimagined-future-of-food-security-and-climate-resiliency-week-1/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Past
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20191119T173000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20191119T220000
DTSTAMP:20260415T175813
CREATED:20190729T230942Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20191217T152528Z
UID:3138-1574184600-1574200800@rethinksustainability.ca
SUMMARY:Leadership Series\, Rethink Waste Action Partners
DESCRIPTION:November 19\, 2019 | MaRS Discovery District\, Toronto Canada\nConnect with leaders to shape a Zero Waste\, Circular Economy Future \n  \n \n  \nRethink Waste – Action Partners: Powered by Technology and Collaboration \n  \n“Without urgent action\, global waste will increase 70% by 2050 compared to current levels. We have to change this trajectory.” – The World Bank \n\nIf we don’t change the narrative now\, our world will be too polluted to sustain the survival of the natural systems that all humanity depends on. \nRecognizing this urgent call for action\, RSI is launching an action focused\, Rethink Waste initiative for leaders\, entrepreneurs and experts to discover and share innovative and scalable solutions to move us closer to a Zero Waste\, circular economy future. \nThe journey starts before\, at and beyond the November 19th\, RSI Rethink Waste Action Partners leadership dinner dialogue at MaRS to promote proven solutions to specific waste challenges.  Plus\, a private gathering for speakers and sponsors. \nThe Good News \nInnovative waste solutions are being discovered\, tested\, proven and rolled out faster than ever before – creating new opportunities for positive change that can be acted on now.  A key enabler is the power of new technologies and multi-disciplined collaborations that aim to design out waste and enable a circular economy. The end goal for this powerful combo is the creation of a healthier\, balanced and zero waste future. \n \nAs illustrated on the right\, Waste Reduction can be applied to any Phase of the Circular Economy too. \nConnect with other leaders\, November 19th at MaRS\, Toronto\, to share\, discover and help shape actionable solutions to move Canada closer to a healthy\, prosperous and balanced zero waste future. \nFeatured Waste Categories. Food\, construction\, technology and plastics. \nWho is this initiative for? Senior and emerging business\, government and institutional decision-makers and influencers. \nReserve Your Seat at the Leadership Table \n  \n \n  \nKey elements of the Rethink Waste Action Partners Initiative: \nSeptember to December \n\nArticles\, social media and digital communication\nThought Leadership Report\n\nNovember 19th\, 6:00pm to 10:00pm: \nAn interactive exchange of proven\, scalable solutions\, open forum explorations\, dinner dialogue and key takeaways for mobilizing insights. \nThe speakers will present the perspective of specific action partnerships or collaborations\, highlighting actual use cases/projects and practices. \n\nFeatured Speakers & Topics \nTroy Wright\, RSI Chair\, and CEO of Lendified Inc.\nTroy is former President and CEO of Scotiabank Group Mexico\, the largest subsidiary of Scotiabank outside of Canada\, current CEO and co-founder of Lendified. He will deliver welcome remarks and comment on the waste challenge impacting humanity from a business perspective and why rethinking waste with other action partners is essential for shaping a better future. Topic: A Business Perspective. Shaping a Better Future \n\nDr. Yannick Beaudoin\, Director-General for Ontario and North Canada\, The David Suzuki Foundation. (former Chief Scientist of GRID-Arendal\, collaborating with United Nations Environmental Programme and UN Economic Commission for Africa\, in Norway)\nTopic. The Circular Economy – Transforming Waste into Purpose \nDescription:\n‘Waste’\, in all its forms\, is an expected outcome of our take-make-waste society. We have social waste when we choose to allow poverty and homelessness. Extreme environmental waste when we choose to allow the wasteful abuse of the natural systems we wholly depend on. Physical materials ‘waste’\, from food\, construction\, energy and sanitary waste and all the discarded stuff we buy and disregard\, for which our economics no longer deem of value. \nAs the world attempts to tackle wicked problems like climate change\, growing inequality amplified by uneconomic growth\, frameworks like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strategies like circular economy are indeed a positive step forward.   \nDr. Beaudoin will discuss what and how to rethink and redo business as usual to unlock the potential full benefits of these approaches to achieve truly thriving\, waste-free future inspired with purpose. \n\nLori Nikkel\, CEO\, Second Harvest Canada.\n Lori is a recognized leader and champion of environmental and social justice issues related to food and is sought after for her expertise internationally.\nTopic: The Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste \n\nJohn Watts\, President\, HOTHOUSE\, Toronto\n \nJohn is a father\, husband and a successful entrepreneur\, specializing in leading\, partnering\, building\, operating and selling a variety of food and hospitality related ventures in the GTA and Haliburton.   \nHis journey began\, in 1981 when he joined his father’s business Watts Restaurants Ltd. He immediately opened and operated Victoria’s to 1996\, renovated and converted into Route 66 Roadside Grill and Bar\, sold in 2002.  Other ventures include Joe Badali’s Piazza on Front Inc.\, OverDraught Irish Pub; and\, BLT Construction Services Inc\, project management and general contracting business specializing in the Hospitality Industry.  \nBought\, rebranded and renovated the Hot House Café\, in 2017 a large iconic neighborhood restaurant on the corner of Church and Front.  In 2019\, with friends/colleagues\, he purchased the Boshkung Brewery in The Haliburton Highlands\, the beer of choice for cottagers and residents alike. \n\nDr. Michael von Massow\, Associate Professor\, OAC Chair in Food System Leadership\, University of Guelph \nDr. von Massow researches how people think about food\, how food demand is changing\, and the structure of the value chains that deliver food to consumers.  He is Co-Director of the Guelph Food Waste Project and has undertaken a wide range of research into food waste.  Mike is also the founding Director of the Longo’s Food Retail Laboratory at the University of Guelph.  He speaks often on food issues and has appeared in a variety of media including CBC’s the National and the Globe and Mail. \n\nFireside chat with three industry leaders:\nTopic: Circular Economy for Building Design\, Construction and Resource Salvation\nA solution focused conversation with Dr. Mark Gorgolewski\, Tim Coldwell and Paul Dowsett about why and how they are adopting circular economy and resource salvation strategies in their respective practices to drive us closer to a waste free future in the context of the built environment – plus\, key takeaways for translating ideas into action. \nAcademic Perspective \nDr. Mark Gorgolewski Ph.D.\, MSc\, Dip ARC\, BSc\, LEED AP\, Professor & Chair\, Department of Architectural Science\, Ryerson University \nDr. Gorgolewski is a recognized leader and a champion of issues of circular materials economy\, sustainable design\, resource use\, and building performance in Canada and the UK.  He a registered architect and experienced educator and an environmental consultant to the construction industry. A past director of the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC)\, past chair of the Association of Environment Conscious Building and is a LEED Accredited Professional. He has published extensively on issues of sustainable design and resource salvation – including his most recent book\, published by Wiley-Blackwell\,  ‘Resource Salvation: The Architecture of Reuse’.  \nConstruction Business Perspective \nTim Coldwell\, President of Chandos\, Construction for Good \nTim is a husband\, dad and indigenous entrepreneur focused on leading by serving\, culture and the monetization of ideas. Chandos is an employee owned national technical builder\, leading change in the Canadian construction industry\, and the first/largest B-Corp certified commercial general contractor in North America. Under his leadership\, Chandos has forged partnerships with social enterprises across Canada focusing on employment of at-risk youth and those who are under-represented in the construction industry. Tim is an advisor to San Francisco’s Center for Innovation in the Design & Construction Industry (CIDCI) and the past board chair of the Integrated Project Delivery Alliance (IPDA). He has been named a Top 40 Under 40 and is an alumnus of the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference.  \nSustainable Building Design Perspective \nPaul Dowsett\, Founder of Sustainable\, Architecture for a Healthy Planet \nPaul Dowsett is the founding Principal Architect at Sustainable. With more than three decades of local and international residential\, institutional\, and commercial sustainable design and project management experience\, Paul is uniquely qualified to lead a highly collaborative design team for projects of diverse scales\, types\, and complexities. For the past decade\, Paul has been central to a practice of deep community engagement with marginalized people of all backgrounds and abilities. At the core of Paul’s philosophy and practice is the belief that design and construction solutions should be simple\, sensitive\, and sustainable. \n\nYasmin Glanville\, RSI Founder\, Chief Communication-Innovation Strategist of Re-Ignite. \nYasmin helps new and established boards\, organizations and entrepreneurs in Canada and abroad to create and implement communication and innovation strategies for sustained leadership\, relevancy and prosperity. Topic One Mission\, Together for Leaders \n\nAgenda\n5:30pm to 10:00pm (all times are approximate) \n\n6:10pm. Opening Remarks\, Darla Campbell\, MC and RSI Board Director \n6:13pm.  Welcome Message from the Chairman of RSI\, Troy Wright\n6:17pm. The Circular Economy – From Waste to Purpose\, Dr. Yannick Beaudoin\, Director General of Ontario and Northern Canada\, DSF\n6:43pm. Making it Real – A Business Perspective\, Tim Coldwell\, President\, Chandos\n6:55pm Dinner Dialogue\, Reimagining a Zero Waste Future and Speakers Corner\n7:25pm. Making it Real – Specific waste solution strategies\, solutions\, use cases\n\n\nThe Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste\, Powered by Collaboration\nFeaturing Lori Nikkel\, CEO\, Second Harvest Canada; John Watts\, President & Owner\, Hothouse Restaurant. Moderated by Dr. Michael Von Massow\, University of Guelph.\n \nCircular Economy for Building Design\, Construction and Resource Salvation. Tim Coldwell\, President\, Chandos; Dr. Mark Gorgolewski\, Ryerson Dept of Architectural Science. Moderated by Paul Dowsett\, Founding principal\, Sustainable. Architecture for a Healthy Planet.\n \n\n8:25pm.  Making it Real\, Table Discussions\n8:38pm   Five\, One Minute Table Discussion Report Outs\n8:48pm   One Mission\, Together\, for Leaders\, Yasmin Glanville\, RSI Founder\n9:00pm.  Closing remarks\, Group Photo\, Speakers Corner\, Wine reception \n10:15pm  Wrap up\n\nNOTE: The entire event will be documented in a summary report.  More agenda details will be announced during the coming weeks. \n\nPost Event: Rethink Waste Thought Leadership Report \nTo further advance the end goal\, we will be producing an RSI Thought Leadership Report and ongoing communications. \nAll November 19th event sponsors are invited to partner with RSI on these and/or other solution discoveries and best practices for use by leaders\, organizations and communities. \nCalling all Waste Solution Leaders to partner with RSI for this important initiative \n \n  \nSponsor and Partnership Opportunities \nIf you have a proven solution to a waste challenge\, related to one or more of these categories: Food\, Technology\, Construction\, Clothing/Textiles\, or  Plastic and are interested in partnering with RSI\, read this one-page Rethink Waste Action Partners sponsorship summary\, and let’s talk. \nContact us to learn more about RSI\, the Leadership series and sponsorship and partnership opportunities: \nYasmin@RethinkSustainability.ca \nDarla@RethinkSustainability.ca \nCommunications@RethinkSustainability.ca \n\nEvent Sponsors and Partners \n      
URL:https://rethinksustainability.ca/event/leadership-series-rethink-waste/
LOCATION:MaRS\, 101 College St\, Toronto\, Ontario\,  M5G 1L7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Past
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20190610T160000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20190610T220000
DTSTAMP:20260415T175813
CREATED:20190429T194944Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190620T020504Z
UID:2921-1560182400-1560204000@rethinksustainability.ca
SUMMARY:Leadership Series - June 10\, 2019
DESCRIPTION:The Future of Energy and Buildings: Powered by Innovation\n\nWelcome to the Future of Energy and Buildings: Powered by Innovation RSI leadership dinner & dialogue and Innovation Zone. \nThis is an accelerated action-focused exchange for forward-thinking leaders\, entrepreneurs and experts from business\, finance\, science\, cities and civil society. \nJoin us to discover opportunities for stepping up to the climate change challenge – with a focus on proven\, innovative solutions for future proofing energy and buildings in urban and rural communities.  And\, connect with leaders and action partners from several sectors to shape a better future together! \nConnecting the Dots:\nClimate Change. Energy. Buildings. Innovation.\n\n\nThe Globe & Mail reported that 70% of Canadians are concerned about climate change and want to take positive action.\n81% of Canada’s human-made greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions causing the climate to change\, come from the production and use of energy.\nInternational Energy Agency (IEA) report says the largest potential for energy efficiency and reduction of carbon emissions in Canada is from the buildings.\nCanada will not reach its climate targets by focusing solely on reducing emissions from new buildings. That’s because most buildings that will be in existence in 2050 have already been built.\n\nHowever\, in spite of the evidence and desire for action\, most leaders are not sure what to do in their organizations\, their communities or how to prioritize what’s most important. \nThe Opportunity:\nBy working together towards achieving a more sustainable\, resilient and prosperous low carbon future\, we can speed up the discovery and deployment of actionable solutions.  \nThe June 10th RSI Leadership Dinner & Dialogue supports that mission with actionable insights\, use cases and solution takeaways presented by recognized market leaders and experts who are already harnessing innovation for future proofing energy and buildings – and have a clear direction for what’s up ahead. \nTo set the stage with a broader\, global context\, the evening will be ignited by global and holistic overview of the new realities impacting ‘business as usual’ and society –and the importance of investing in innovative energy and building solutions. \n\nKeynote Presentations\nThe Global Context – Setting the Stage \n \nDr. Yannick Beaudoin\nDirector-General Ontario and Northern Canada\, The David Suzuki Foundation (DSF) \n “Future proofing our built spaces: a new economics to catalyze real sustainability” \n\nSo far\, the global move towards sustainability has resulted in more unsustainability. We have increased our efficiencies in a manner that leads to increased demand\,  more waste and more pollution. What lies at the heart of this ‘paradox’? What drives cumulative unsustainability even as we deploy individual innovations and efforts that are meant to decrease negative impacts? We continue to work with an economic operating system that has barely evolved since the mid-20th century\, and we expect it to deliver on new social and ecological goals – goals it was not designed to recognize. Let’s explore together how our desire to innovate for the future of energy and buildings can catalyze the same innovation spirit to enable new economic purpose. \nAbout Yannick\nHe brings a ‘new economics for transition’ lens to organizations to enable the transformation of Canada towards social and ecological sustainability. Formerly\, Chief Scientist of GRID-Arendal\, a center collaborating with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa\, located in Norway\, which provided him with the opportunity to explore stories of sustainability in all corners of the world.  He applies a science of change and participatory social processes to a variety of themes including adaptation to uncertain climate futures and innovation for new development and economic paradigms. \n\nAction Learning Clusters\nEach of these multi-disciplined groups include forwarding thinking leaders known for seeing the big picture and creating sustainable\, resilient and scalable energy related solutions for new and existing buildings and business organizations – powered by innovation. \nTo enhance actionable knowledge sharing\, each group focuses one best practice project that illustrates the what\, who\, why and how these solutions can be applied elsewhere to support a low carbon future. \n\nRevolutionizing Building Design for a Net Positive Future\nCluster Focus: New Buildings\nProject:  Evolv1  \nThe focus: Transferrable insights for green building innovation and positive design for positive solutions for new builds. How to motivate\, inspire\, and educate the public about sustainable design\, all within the context of a competitive marketplace — including social and environmental impacts as part of the bottom-line and alignment with the global UNSDGs. \n\n \nModerator:\nRachel Bannon-Godfrey\nPrincipal\, Sustainability Discipline Leader\nStantec \nRachel is the global leader for sustainability initiatives in design work\, client outreach\, and internal operations. She has over 15 years’ experience focusing on the engineering and design of high-performance\, net-zero energy buildings. With a passion for multi-disciplinary engagement and expanding the boundaries of ‘sustainability’\, she serves on the Mayor’s Sustainability Advisory Council for the City and County of Denver\, the Colorado Resource Council.  And\, through her previous work with the B Corp community\, has gained expertise in supporting diversity and inclusion through design. \nSpeakers\n\nAdrian Conrad\nChief Operating Officer\nThe Cora Group and Evolv1 Developer \nAdrian’s business and financial acumen coupled with project management knowledge makes Adrian a discerning commercial developer and a natural partner at The Cora Group. He is passionate about preserving our environment for future generations and a strong proponent of LEED and sustainable development. \nAdrian has extensive experience in commercial development and leasing for small and large tenant needs\, and over his career\, has overseen the development or leasing of more than 2 million square feet of office space within Waterloo Region. He continues to spearhead the creation of premiere\, sustainable Class A office spaces tailored to the needs of technology and professional service firms. Cora Group’s portfolio of sustainable properties\, located within David Johnson Research + Technology Park in Waterloo’s IdeaQuarter\, are among the Region’s most prestigious Class A office locations. \n\nRichard Williams\nPrincipal\, Architecture\nStantec \nRichard s is an award-winning architect with over 35 years of experience\, and has gained client praise for his sensitivity\, dedication\, and commitment to achieving their objectives. Richard’s passion is achieving design excellence through sustainability\, innovation\, and creativity. Richard is an advocate integrated practice—he believes that better solutions come from collaboration between disciplines\, as evidenced by his successful leadership of the evolv1 project\, which utilized a large multi-disciplinary Stantec team. Sustainability is a core principle with Richard\, who seeks appropriate sustainable design in all his work. He is a past Board Director and Secretary of the. GTA Chapter of the Canada Green Building Council and is a member of the OAA Sustainable Built Environment Committee. He also extends this commitment to design excellence and sustainability through lecturing and educational programs. \n\nSustained Advantage of Intelligent Deep Energy Retrofits  \nCluster Focus: Existing Buildings\n \nProject: Ryerson University Smart Campus Integration\nThe focus: Scalable and transferrable innovative insights for enhancing the sustainability and resiliency of portfolio of existing buildings – with the value add of transparent operational intelligence and alignment with the global UNSDGs. \n\nModerator\nMarianne Lefever\nManaging Partner\, Healthy City \nAn architect and a strategic thinker with over 10 years of experience in climate mitigation\, CleanTech and sustainable city design. After an exciting career as a structural engineer\, renewable energy and innovation consultant\, and futurist\, she returned to her first love of sustainable city design. She is currently working with a Dutch urban planning studio to transform cities around the globe into healthy environments and communities. \n  \nSpeakers\n \n\nPratik Sharma\, MBA\nGlobal Director\, Building Service & Performance Management\nArmstrong Fluid Technology (AFT) \nPratik firmly believes that technology coupled with right intent can alter the course of our planet by turning sustainability initiatives into financially attractive investments. \nIn his Global AFT Director and head of Armstrong’s Active Performance Management initiative\, he mobilizes this belief as a collaborative\, purpose-driven leader who inspires positive change and empowers teams — to develop solutions to advance  our future sustainability – starting with energy in the built environment \nHis insights are  backed by over 15 years as a business executive and expert leading industry automation services\, services sales\, integrated plant optimization\, process automation and recurring services  at Armstrong and previous global roles at Schneider Electric and StarTech. \n\nJenn McArthur\, PEng\, MASc.\, PMP\, CEM.\nAssociate Professor\, Department of Architectural Science\nRyerson University \nJenn leverages her pre-academic work experience as a mechanical design engineer and project manager to improve the holistic performance of the built environment. She is the PI for Ryerson’s Smart Building Analytics Living Lab and her research program centers on the development of Smart and Continuous Commissioning applications\, a BIM and machine-learning integrated Smart Campus Integration platform\, and the development of best practices for workplace design integrating both energy/environmental and health/wellness/productivity considerations. \nCurrent projects include developing surrogate models for commercial buildings\, machine learning classification and prediction of boiler faults\, developing a Roadmap-to-2030 strategy for the Toronto2030 district\, online model predictive control systems\, and developing a cloud-hosted BIM-integrated facility management platform.   Previously\, PM and Lead Mechanical Engineer at ARUP\, for several high profile new and existing building projects. \n\nInnovation Zone ( Bonus ) – See Innovation in Action!\nTo enhance the knowledge sharing experience\, the evening includes an intimate innovation zone of future ready energy and building solutions and applications. \nAgenda for the Event\n4:00pm to 9:15pm + networking\n\nRegistration and reception in the Innovation Zone\nOpening remarks\, first keynote speaker\nAction Learning Cluster: New Buildings\, Q&A\nDinner Dialogue – New Buildings\nSecond keynote speaker\nAction Learning Cluster: Existing Buildings\, Q&A\nRefreshments\, Table Discussions – Existing Buildings\nOne Minute Delegate Report Outs\nOpen Forum with all speakers\, Key Takeaways\nClosing Remarks\n\nDrinks and networking in the Innovation Zone \n \nSponsors\n \n\n \n\n  \n \n\n  \n \n\n 
URL:https://rethinksustainability.ca/event/leadership-series-june-10-2019/
LOCATION:Telus\, 25 York Street\, 3rd Floor\, Toronto\, ON\, M5J 2V5\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Past
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20190423T170000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20190423T220000
DTSTAMP:20260415T175813
CREATED:20190227T000001Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190507T025634Z
UID:2758-1556038800-1556056800@rethinksustainability.ca
SUMMARY:Leadership Series - April 23\, 2019
DESCRIPTION:Why is CEO trust in AI imperative to the future of business and society?\nArtificial intelligence (AI) is predicted to drive 95% of all customer interactions by 2025.  It’s already having a transformative impact across every industry – including financial services\, manufacturing\, retail\, transportation\, agriculture and healthcare – and disrupting business as usual. Some studies calculate that the global GDP will be 14 percent higher by 2030 as a result of AI adoption\, contributing an additional $15.7 trillion to the global economy. Recognizing this shift\, early adopters are using AI and other emerging technologies to drive innovative business models\, practices\, services and customer experiences that allow them to obtain or sustain a competitive advantage now and into the future. \nDespite its transformative potential\, a lack of trust is limiting AI’s growth.  To capitalize on its value\, building trust in AI needs to be treated as a strategic imperative. \nTo explore how trusted AI can advance and sustain the competitive advantage of your business and the markets you serve\, join our AI-focused dinner and dialogue for C-suite executives. \nTo kick-start the dialogue\, three global business leaders will share how they propelled their customer-centric organizations forward with AI – and how they build trust in AI. \n\nCathy Cobey\, Global Trusted AI Advisory Leader\, EY\nCindy Gordon\, Founder & CEO and SalesChoice Inc.\, and EY/CATA Sara Kirke Award recipient\nTroy Wright\, Founder & CEO\, Lendified\n\nTo those who register\, we’ll be sending a C-suite AI readiness survey. Please complete the survey prior to the event to help guide our evening session. \n\nAgenda:\n\n\n\n\n5:00–5:30 pm\nRegistration and cocktail reception\n\n\n5:30–7:00 pm\nOpening remarks\, keynote speakers\, open forum\n\n\n7:00-8:00 pm\nDinner and discussion about how AI relates to your business\, and recommendations for advancing your organization and a more sustainable and resilient future for the communities you serve\n\n\n8:00–8:40 pm\nAfter-dinner rounds of five-minute report-outs (one person per table)\n\n\n8:40–8:50 pm\nClosing remarks\n\n\n8:50–10:00 pm\nDrinks and networking\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers:\n\nCathy Cobey\, Global Trusted AI Advisory Leader\nEY\nPOV:  Professional Services\nDrawing on 25 years as a technology risk advisor\, Cathy oversees a global team that works on the ethical and control implications of AI and autonomous systems. Cathy leverages her unique background as a CPA and her involvement with the EY Climate Change and Sustainability Services practice to consider the full spectrum of technological and societal implications in intelligent automation development.  She serves on a number of technical advisory committees to develop industry and regulatory standards for emerging technologies. \n\nCindy Gordon\, Founder & CEO\nSalesChoice\nPOV: Technology\nDr. Gordon is the innovation leader behind SalesChoice Inc.\, an award-winning AI advanced analytics sales enablement company.  A recognized expert in innovation\, advanced analytics and AI and digital convergence\, she has a 25-year track record in leadership roles as a former partner of Accenture; vice president of Citicorp; director of GM Xerox; and as a founding partner in venture capital and angel associations. She is the co-founder of the AI Directory\, a leading global AI hub\, and serves on international boards\, including Forbes Business School. She’s also the National STEM CATA spokesperson to improve Canada’s inclusion gaps in the technology sector. Her 14th book\, The AI Split: The Perfect World or The Perfect Storm\, will be released this year. She is very concerned about Canada’s declining productivity ratios and lag in AI applied innovation resilience gaps in intellectual property (patent filings)\, and is passionate about innovation and sustainability. \n\nTroy Wright\, Founder & CEO\nLendified Inc.\nPOV: Financial Services/Fintech\nTroy is a globally recognized leader and trusted expert with a proven 30-plus-year track record in the financial services industry. Prior to launching Lendified in 2015\, Troy was president and CEO of Scotiabank Group Mexico\, the largest subsidiary of Scotiabank outside Canada and a full-service bank with 2.4 million customers\, US$23 billion in assets\, 900 branches and 15\,000 employees. Lendified has pioneered the use of AI to develop automated lending systems that use the power of data and analytics to replace traditional manual processes with a better\, more predictive outcome. \nModerator:\nYasmin Glanville\, RSI Founder\, and Chief Igniter of Re-Ignite.ca\nA recognized innovation\, future-readiness and communication leader for forward thinking leaders and organizations \n  \n \n  \n\nSponsors:
URL:https://rethinksustainability.ca/event/leadership-series/
LOCATION:EY Tower\, 100 Adelaide St. West\, 40th floor\, Toronto\, ON\, M5H 1S3\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Past
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20190219T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20190219T213000
DTSTAMP:20260415T175813
CREATED:20181228T014229Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190301T002046Z
UID:2670-1550597400-1550611800@rethinksustainability.ca
SUMMARY:Leadership Dinner & Dialogue
DESCRIPTION:Take action in the age of disruption to advance your future readiness\nEvent Invitation\nJoin an elite group of exceptional leaders\, entrepreneurs and innovators for the launch event in our RSI Dinner and Dialogue Series on February 19th\, 2019\, in Toronto. \nDiscover and share actionable future-ready strategies and solutions to key challenges impacting business and society in an era of change and disruption with other senior leaders and thought leaders and experts. \nTo optimize your experience\, the knowledge exchange will be ignited by three internationally recognized and awarded speakers who will discuss how to thrive in our age of disruption. It will then move into a deep dive dialogue that will tap into the collective intelligence of a dynamic group of other recognized leaders while you share future-ready challenges\, strategies and solutions. \nGourmet dinner will be served. As a bonus\, everyone will receive an executive summary of key takeaways. \nKeynote Speakers\n\n \nSanjay Khanna\,\nDirector and Futurist\nWhitespace Legal Collab by Baker McKenzie\nPresentation: Future proofing the people side of business in the era of disruption \nOrganizations must shift from neutral to high gear in order to address multiple operational and organizational risks associated with climate change\, including significant risks to their people’s well-being.  Sanjay Khanna will explore how potential mental health impacts of environmental and climatic change—such as anxiety\, depression and eco-anxiety—might affect organizations’ productivity and performance. And\, how people and businesses can prepare for the what’s up ahead\, starting today. Sanjay’s presentation will be complemented by these fellow speakers\, with a focus on future-proofing climate adaptation and resiliency strategies for businesses and communities.\n  \n \nDr. Blair Feltmate\nHead\, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation\, University of Waterloo\nPresentation: Hotter\, Wetter\, Wilder: How Canada Must Prepare for Climate Change and Extreme Weather Risk \nClimate change is real and irreversible – accordingly\, the financial and social costs of extreme weather are becoming increasingly problematic across virtually all regions of Canada. In response to these growing threats\, Blair will highlight how Canada is preparing to limit the impacts of extreme weather through the development and deployment of national Standards that will limit flood\, fire and heat risk going forward. He will emphasize that Canada’s adaptation deficit is growing\, and that the time to act to limit what will inevitably be an unsustainable future is now – not 2030\, not 2040 and not 2050 – but NOW. \n  \n \nElliott Cappell\, Chief Resilience Officer\, City of Toronto\nHe leads the development of Toronto’s first Resilience Strategy and the City’s participation in the global 100 Resilient Cities network.\nPresentation: Strategy and Actions for making a more resilient city for residents and businesses \nCities are on the front lines of climate action.  As part of the global 100 Resilient Cities network\, Elliott is leading the development of Toronto’s first Resilience Strategy.  He will highlight how the priority actions the City will take to combat the risks of flooding\, heat\, extreme cold\, and explain why our actions need to focus on the most vulnerable residents.  The Resilience Strategy will propose immediate actions for People and Neighbourhoods\, Infrastructure\, and for ‘Leading a Resilient City’. \n  \nThis promises to be an evening of important action-focused conversation. On behalf of the RSI Board\, we hope you can join us for dinner\, dialogue and real solutions. \n \n  \nFor more information:\n\nEmail: Communications@rethinksustainability.ca\nSponsorship Opportunities: Call/Text Yasmin at 416 970-6600\nThought Leadership Report: RSI 2018 Sustainable Futures Thought Leadership Report \n  \nEvent Sponsors
URL:https://rethinksustainability.ca/event/leadership-dinner-dialogue/
LOCATION:The Faculty Club\, 41 Willcocks Street\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5S 3G3\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Past
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20160927T173000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20160927T220000
DTSTAMP:20260415T175813
CREATED:20160903T014117Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190228T001338Z
UID:628-1474997400-1475013600@rethinksustainability.ca
SUMMARY:InterGEN Leadership Action Learning
DESCRIPTION:Visual Highlights: \n[vimeo id=”188818269″ width=”600″ height=”350″ autoplay=”no” api_params=”” class=””] \n  \nRSI_Intergen_sept_27_info \nLink to PDF
URL:https://rethinksustainability.ca/event/intergen-leadership-action-learning/
LOCATION:The Faculty Club\, 41 Willcocks Street\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5S 3G3\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Past
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR